The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-15
PROTEST..
WaShingt0n'S Anti Coercion Meeting.
A Great Audience Adopts Strong Resolutions Of
Remonsfrance ~ith England Letters
from Prominent Men.

WASHINGTON, April IA meeting
was held here this evening in the Ma
sonic Temple in response to a printed
call signed in due form by the chair
man, secretary and committee, To give
| expression on the part of American resi-
dents and soiOurners at the National
| Crpital, to protest against the passage of
| the Coercion bill for Ireland, now pend
ing in the British Parliament The hall
| was literally decorated with bunting and
| aud appropriate notices. The audience
was well dressed and orderly but AN en-
thusiastic throng filled the hall To its ut
most capacity before the hour fixed for
the speaking to begin. The chairman of
the committee called the meeting to or
der and introduced Congressman Spring
er. of Illinois, who had been chosen To pre-
side. after stating the purpose of the
meeting, Mr.. Stringer said ii seemed to
him that history was repeating itself.
The contest now going on in Great
Britain in reference to the government
of Ireland was, in many respects, very
similar to that which was carried on in
the American colonies, and it would not
be inappropriate for Ireland at this time
To proclaim that immortal declaration of
Independence which 115 years ago was
proclaimed in Philadelphia. He did not
desire to be understood as suggesting to
the Irish at this time that they should
pursue the course pursued by our fore
fathers.
Ireland's leaders were now securing "A
peaceful way out of their difficulties. In
this great contest for liberty and home
rule, it must not be assumed that the
English people were a party to wrong.
Let the people of Ireland preserve their
equanimity, submit as long as submis-
sion is possible and the time would not
long be delayed when, in his opinion, the
English people themselves, the working
men, would right the wrongs of Ireland.
The other speakers We're General
Rosecrans, ex-senator Van Wyck, Con
gresham Grain, of Texas; Judge BrOder-
ick, of Virginia.; Gen. George A. Sheri-
dan and Congressman Shirley. of Indiana.
Resolutions prepared by the committee
for that purpose were adopted, as fol-
lows:
WHEREAS. The Tory administration of
England is about to enact for Ireland a
tyrannical cOercive measure that will
have the effect of abolishing trial
by jury, suspending the habeas corpus
act, imprisOning in the foulest dun
geOns thousands of innocent peO-
pie, deprived of the privilege of ap-
peal or redress, transporting suspected
persons to- an alien country togo through
the farce of a trial, suppressing the press
and free speech, and, in a word, of rob
bing the people of Ireland of all the
rights which manhood holds dear and
civilization demands; be il
ResOired, That We, citizens of the Capi-
tai of the United States, in mass meet
ing assembled, sincerely sympathiZe with
the Hon. William. +. Gladstone and
Hon. Charles Stewart Parnell
in their gallant battle against
this barbarous Coercion bill. and that we
earnestly and Indignantly protest against
the passage by the British Parliament of
a measure calculated to brutaliZe and en-
slave the people of Ireland.
Resolved That the enactment of such
diabolical laws would not alone be an
outrage ON the Irish people, but a crime
against the spirit of liberty everywhere.
and that the trainers and advocates of
the Coercion bill should go down to pos
terity condemned by humanity and
branded with mfamy.
A large number of letters of regret
were read by the Secretary.